Collapsible tube and cap retainer therefor



Oct. 10, 1933. J. (3I KlNG COLLAPSIBLE TUBE AND CAP RETAINER THEREFOAR Filed Feb. 23, 1933 37 y 5 j 2 Z0 i Whg 52 L .52 4

20 v 4 1 @QI y M. I Musi" 56? Q AWE/V70@ JAA/fs 0 MW@ from/f UNITED STATES PATENTl GFFICE COLLAPSIBLE TUBE AND CAP RETAINER THEREFOR .lames 0. King, Cleveland, Ghio Application February 23, 1933. Serial No. 657,989

19 Claims. (Cl. 221-60) The invention particularly relates to an imp Figure 4 is a plan section, taken in the planes proved construction of containers' and caps indicated by the line 4 4, Figure 3'; therefor combined with improved means for Figure 5 is a vertical section, taken in the plane holding the cap upon the ,container when the indicated by the line 55, Figure 4;

5 cap is removed from the container neck to make 'Figure 6 is a detached plan view ofthe im- 50 the container contents available. The invenproved means for holding the cap to the contion is particularly applicable *to that class of tainer, and showing these holding means in the containers known as collapsible tubes. The inposition which they assume during the opened vention also includes improved means for obvicondition of the container illustrated in Figating the loss of the sealing members which are ure 3;

usually provided in the heads of the caps and are Figures '1 and 8 are views similar to Figure 6 adapted to seal the top of the container neck of two modied forms of holding means; when the cap is in its closed position. Figure 9 is an elevation of the holding means The invention is designed to provide cap-re,- shown in Figure 8, the view being taken from taining means of simple and inexpensive conthe plane indicated by the line 9 9, Figure 8; 70 struction, which will act automatically to move Figure 10 is a partial plan view of a 4holder the cap laterally away from the container neck and cap in open condition and provided with as soon as the cap has been unscrewed or otherthe form of holding means shown in Figure 8; wise detached from the container neck. The im- Figure 11 is a partial elevation and partial 0 proved retaining means securely and non-rotatvertical section of that form of cap and holding 75 ably engage the container neck, and are securely means shown in Figure 10; fastened to the cap without interfering with the Figure 12 is a plan view of means for positiveconvenient relative axial movement of the con- 1y locking the usual cork or other sealing means tainer and cap when threading or otherwise fasin the head of an internally-threaded tube cap; tenias the cap to the container 0r when effeot- Figure 13 is a side elevation, taken from the ing the disengagement of the cap and container. plane indicated by the line 13-13, Figure 12;

The Cap-retaining means are Olmed 0f resilient Figure 14 is a fragmentary vertical section of material, preferably suitable spring wire, and a tube cap, showing one form of 'sealing means consist of relatively pivoted parts which reciproand my improved means for locking the sealing 85 @ably act upon each other in engaged position to means in the head of the cap at the base of the assist in the proper and secure engagement of the internal threads therein; and retaining member parts with the container and Figure 15 is a detachedsection of the locking cap, respectively. l means for the seal in that condition which these The annexed drawing and the following delocking means assume when they have themselves scription set forth in detail certain means embeen engaged by, andv'xed in, the teeth of the cap bOdyng the Principle 0f my nVentiOn, the dS- thread, as shown in Figure 14, the. broken lines closed means, however, showing but a few of showing the position assumed by the periphery the varOllS fOI'lnS by Which the invention may be of the locking means when it is being moved into 40 illustrated. position past the threads in the cap. 95 In said annexed draWng Referring to the annexed drawing in which the Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevation or a same parts are indicated by the same several collapsible tube and its removable cap provided numbers in the different views, and rst referring With my imPrOVed Ineens fel' holding lShe tube particularly to Figures 1 to 6, inclusive, a collapsbody and cap together, the view showing the cap ible tube 1 of the well-known character for hold- 100 in its closed position; ing dental cream, shaving cream and like prodn Figure 2 is a plan section, taken in the .plane ucts is provided with the usual ared skirt secindicated by the line 2-2, Figure 1; tion 2 extended downwardly from a neck portion Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 1, but show- 3 which latter, in the form of device shown for ing the cap in its open position to permit dispurposes of illustration, is provided with external 105 charge of the tube contents, the View further threads by means of which it may be detachably showing how the cap is held to the tube during engaged by a cap 4 having an upper-end enlarged use of the tube to obtain a part of the contents ilange forming a head 5. The cap 4 is frusto-conthereof, this View also showing the cap partiall ical, as indicated by the tapered side 6 thereof,

in vertical section; Figure 5, which Figure shows the cap in the up- 110 side down position which lt assumes in the open condition of the tube 1.

. Vwith the clean and convenient removal of the l tube contents for use. One form of these holding means, beingthat form which is shown on the tube in Figui-es 1 to 5, inclusive, is shown detached in Figure 6, and comprises two main sections 7 and 11, of which section 7 is adapted to be non-rotatably secured about the tube neck 3 and at the base of the threads thereof, and the section 11 is adapted to be secured about the flared cap 4 and abutting the bottom of the head 5 thereof.

The section 7 of the holding member is substantially diamond-shaped having a dimension a-b between two opposed corners of the diamond slightly greater in extent than the dimension c-d between the otherpair of opposed corners, for a purpose hereinafter fully explained. The longer dimension of the holding section 7 is in a plane intersecting the cap section 11 when vthe holding member is in its open position, clearly shown in Figure 6. The holding member 7-11 is preferably formed of resilient material, and I have illustrated the same in the accompanying drawing as made of spring wire.

The diamond-shaped formation of the holding member section 7, of a size which comports with the neck size of the particular'tube for which it is intended, provides four points of rigid contact 19 with the neck 3. The diamond-shaped body of the section 7 is formed with terminal portions 8 and 9 which are continuations of the diamond sides l17 and 18, these sides 17 and 18 being thus continued in substantially straight lines so that the sides 17 and 18 cross each other at the corner 37 to form the terminals 8 and 9 which upon being compressed toward each other cause the sides 17 and 18 to slide upon each other to move the corner 37 outwardly or, in other Words, increase the dimensions a-b and c-d to release the section 7 from its rigid engagement with the neck 3; conversely, when the' terminal portions 8 and 9 are spread further apart than the relative positions which they normally assume, the sides 17 and 18 slide upon each other to move the corner 37 inwardly and decrease the dimensions a-b and c-d and cause the section 7 more rmly to engage the neck 3.

The holding member section 7 is pivotally con Vnected to the section 11 by means of terminal hooks 10 which engage cooperating terminal hooks 13 formed at the extremities of arms 12 with which the body of the holding member 11 is provided. The hooks-10 and 13 are of enlarged eye formation so that the pivotal joint between the sections 7 and 11 is a loose one permitting considerable relative movement of the hook members 10 and 13 in addition to their relative pivotal movement. The holding member section 11 which engages the cap 4 immediately beneath the head 5 thereof comprises an outer arcuate section 21 merging into substantially parallel opposed side sections 21 and converging inner sections 24 which merge into the aforesaid arms 12, these arms l2 lying outside the body member of the section 11. The portions 23 of the section 11 cap 4, and the hooks 13 tend to more widely separate the hooks 10 whereby the holding member section 7 tends more tightly to engage the neck 3. In the form of holding member shown in Figure 6, the engaging parts of the section 'l1 with the cap 4,comprise the whole length of the arcuate portion 21, the opposed points of contact 22 of the part 21 and the contact points 24 offthe converging parts 23. The holding member section 11 can rotate relatively to the cap 4, but the holding member section 7 rigidly engages the neck 3.

The difference in spacing of the eyes 10 and the eyes 13 not only causes them to work against each other to increase the pressure of the loops 7 and 11 upon the neck 3 and cap 4, respectively, but affects the velocity or speed of the automatic lateral throw of the cap 4 to the position shown in Figure 3, when the cap 4 is unthreaded from the neck 3. The strength of the tension which affects this throw of'the cap 4 can be regulated by the comparative spacings of the hooks` 10 and-13 and/ or by the vangular arrangement of the extensions 8 and 9 relative to each other and relative to their cooperating arms 12 when the extensions and arms lie substantially in a common plane. The comparative liabilities of diere'nt tube contents to spatter would be one of the factors determining the desired strength of the tension or velocity of the throw of the cap 4. My improved seal-locking feature, hereinafter fully described, is particularly serviceable by reason of the automatic throw to which the cap 4 is subjected.

In the form of holding member shown in Figure 7, the neck section 7' thereof is vcomprised of an arcuate outer part'25 and two converging inner parts 2 6 which cross to form theinner corner 37 and merge into the terminal parts 8 and 9. Thus this form of holding member engages the neck 3 throughout the length of the part 25 and at approximately the centers 27 of the two parts 26. In theform of holding member shown in Figure 8, the two holding member sections 28 and 29 are substantially circular in cross-section and engage the neck 3 and cap 4, respectively,substantially throughout their entire circumference. For the last-mentioned two forms of holding members I provide a special cap formation, if required, to prevent the dropping of the cap in its open position from its holding member section, or its disengagement therefrom due to the jarring or other movements to "which the tube and cap are subjected in use. This special cap formation is shown in Figure 11 and comprises a cylindrical cap body 30 having a head 31, and formed with a ange 32 at the base of the body 30 which serves to retain the cap when the latter is thrown laterally by the spring-retaining means after being released frorn its engagement with the tube neck. The open condition of'the cap is shown in Figure 11 and it will be noted that the cap has dropped through the retaining member section 29 to a point where the ring section 29 has engaged the flange 32 which thus retains the cap. This special anged cap formation is particularly desirable when'the cap body is of cylindrical formation, such as shown in Figure y11, instead ofbeing frusto-conical such as shown in Figure 5.

Figure 14 shows a. seal 33 pressed tightly against the bottom of the head 5 of the cap 4 at the base of the internal threads thereof. These seals are made of cork or other suitable material and their use is common in collapsible tubes. -How'- ever, these seals are often lost by reason of being shaken out of the cap 4,' or by reason of adhering to the top of the neck 3, when the ca p 4 is removed from the neck. The latter condition obviates easy and convenient use of the tube 1 also, inasmuch as the seal 33 must be removed from the neck before the tube contents can be discharged. More often these seals become loose in the cap and arrange themselves roughly orobliquely therein so as to obviate eicient sealing action. To effect a secure locking of the seal 33 in the cap 4, I have provided a resilient disk 34 of suitable material which can be distorted under pressure, such as celluloid or paraflined or coated paper, and have placed this disk against the outer face of the sealing member 33 and laterally adjacent Y the top teeth of the internal thread or the cap 4. The periphery of this' disk 34 comprises a series of alternate scallops 35 and tongues 36, as clearly shown in Figures l2 and 13. Vihen the cap 4 is tightly screwed -upon the neck 3 the top of the neck 3 engages the disk 34 which is disposed adjacently beneath the seal 33 and forces the tongues 36 against the top of the topmost thread or" the cap 4, distorting the disk '34 subu stantially into the shape shown in Figure 15 and looking the same in the cap thread. The disk 34 remains thus engaged with the cap thread so that the seal 33 cannot be shaken or jarred loose from the cap 4 when the latter is removed from the neck or While the contents oi the tube are being discharged.

From'the accompanying drawing and the fore going description, it will be evident that upon the unthreading oi the cap 4 from its closed position, shown in Figure 1, the retaining member parts 7 and 11 Whose spring material has been put under tension when folding or swinging section 11 toward section 7 in returning the cap 4 to the container 1, will throw the cap 4 into the posi tion shown in Figure 3, as soon as the cap-4 is completely disengaged from the container neck 3. Thus, the cap 4 is held to the container 1 while vthe container contents are .being obtained, the

position in which the cap 4 is thus held being such as not to interfere vvith the convenient obtaining of the container contents.

All of the retaining member designs are designed securely to engage the container neck 3 so that the neck 3 cannot turn within the loops 7, 7', or 28. These loops all engage the external thread of the neck 3 and, furthermore, the diamond-shaped retaining member design shown in Figure 6 is adapted to engage neck threads at four spaced points 19, while the substantially pearshaped design shown in Figure 7 engages the external thread of the neck 3 throughout the arcuate portion 25 and also at the spaced points 27. Special means are provided for insuring the holding of the cap 4 within the loop 11 or 29 or the retaining member part which encircles the cap. In the design illustrated in Figures 5, the body of the cap 4 is frusto-conical so that the loop 11 can be spread to permit the passing of the same over the comparatively Wide diameter at the bottom of the cap 4 and then the spring loop, upon being released from the spreading sures the permanent tight engagement of the cap. Y

4 with the neck 3 until it is desired positively --tov unscrew the cap 4 from the neck 3. The elongated I dimension a-b of the section 7 of the retaining member, Figure 6, furnishes a protruding outer corner part 20 at the left-hand side of the diamond-shapedloop, Figure 6, which can be engaged by a finger or thumb of the operator to permit pressure to be applied to the loop 7 when positioning the same over the neck 3, and thus insure proper-engagement c? the loop 7 -with the thread of the neck 3 and'at the bottom thread.

In Figures 10 and 11, where the modied form of cap construction is shown adaptable for use With the holding member shown in Figure 8, the loop 29 can be sprung over the flange 32, the normal unsprung diameter of the loop 29 being somewhat greater than the diameter of the cylindrical body 30 butv materially less than the diameter ci the ange 32, so that, when the cap 30 is attached to the tube 1, the loop 29 will lie'adjacentlyA beneath the head 31, and when the 'cap 30 is disen-l gaged from the container 1 and turned upside down laterally or" the container i, the `ioop 29 will engage the inner face oi the iange 32, as shown in Figure ll. r

direct particular attention to the construction of the pivotally engaging parts of the retaining member' sections 7 and 11. inasmuch as the prolongations of the sides 17 and 13 into the extenz sions 8 and 9 across each other, and the prolongations of the sides 24 into the arms 12 do not cross each other, pressure applied to the arms 3, 9 and 12 or to the eyes 10 and 13 will cause the arms 12 more closely te approach each other and the point 37 to move to the right, or will cause the arms 12 to be more Widely spaced and the point 37 to move to the left, depending upon whether the pressure is applied from without or whether it is applied from within. Now, 1 may space the inner sides of the eyes 13 of the arms 12 somewhat more Widely apart than the eyes 10 of the arms 8 and 9 or, as shown in Figures 4 and 6, I may make the loops of such size, relative to the container neck and cap which they are respectively intended to engage, that the inner sides of eyes 13 will tend to be spaced apart more than the eyes 10 when the loops are placed 4on the container neck and cap. This results in the eyes 13' tending to pull the eyes 10 further apart, which is equivalent to pressure from within, when the eyes 10 and 13 are engaged, and also results in the eyes 10 tending to pull the eyes 13 closer together, which is equivalent to pressure from without. The action of the eyes 13 upon the eyes 10 causes the point 37 to move to the left by reason of the sliding of the arms 17 and 18 upon each other and results in the loop 7 'more tightly engaging the container neck 3. The action of the eyes 10 upon the eyes 13 tends to-cause the arms 12 more closely to approach each other and hence the loop 1l more tightly engages the cap 4. Therefore, the loops 7 and 11 interact upon each other in their engaged condition to of said Dit@ effect a tight engagement by both loops with the container parts which they respectively engage.

Or, as shown in Figures 8 and 11, I may make the loops of such size, relative to the container neck and cap which they are respectively intended to engage, that when the loops are placed on the container` neck and cap, respectively, the eyes 10 will be spaced apart somewhat more than the inner sides of eyes .13. In -this form of my invention the tension for effecting the lateral throw of the cap is due entirely to the angular relation of the extensions 8 and 9 relative to each other and relative to arms 12 when the extensions and arms lie substantially in a common plane. Thus, as section 29 is folded or swung from the position shown in Figures 8 and 10 to itsfolded position above section 28, the points of contact between eyes 10 and 13 shift from those shown in Figures 8 and 10 so that the cooperating eyes finally contact in a manner similar to that shown in Figure 1. Because of the loose engagement between eyes 10 and 13, and because of the angular relation between extensions 8 and 9 and arms 12, which relation is clearly shown in Figures 8 and 10, as section 29 is swung toward section 28'arms 12 come into contact with and bear on extensions 8 and 9 near the junction points of the extensions with their eyes 10, thus forcing the points of contact between eyes 10 and 13 to shift'until the eyes 10 contact with the inner sides of eyes '13, then, as the section 29 is swung farther, tension is set up between the two sections since arms 12 tend to spread extensions 8 and 9, While extensions 8 and 9 tend to force arms 12 toward each other.

In a simiiar manner, in all forms of my invention, the loose connection between eyes l0 and 13 permits the angular arrangement of extensions 8 and 9 and arms 12 tocause a shifting of the points where arms 12 bear on extensions 8 and 9, as the two sections or parts are folded toward each other, and to set up a tension directed laterally with respect to a plane perpendicularly cutting the planes of both loops throughout the range of folding pivotal movement. This tension obviously opposes the folding together of the two sections and hence, as the sections are released from a folded position, or as the cap is released from the container when the loops of the cap retainer are mounted thereon, the sections 11 Aand 29 will move to the position of least or no tension., that is, to a position such as that shown in Figures 4, 6, 7, 8 and 10. V In all forms of my invention, therefore, a folding movement of the two sections sets up a tension which tends to unfold the sections and which is directed laterally with respect to a plane perpendicularly cutting the planes of the loops of both sections throughout their range of pivotal movement. It is ob'vious that this tension, although directed laterally with respect to said plane, produces a relative movement of the two sections in a direction parallel to said plane, since the tension is set up by the folding of the sections and is relieved by the unfolding thereof. This result is due tothe fact that extensions 8 and 9 and/or arms 12 diverge from said plane and, because arms 12 are disposed angularly relative to extensions 8 and 9 when both the arms and extensions lie substantially in a common plane, the folding and unfolding movements of the sections result in a forced variation of the spacing between extensions 8 and 9 and between arms l2 as the arms and extensions shiftingly bear on each other. The angular arrangement of extensions 8 and 9 relative to each and relative to arms 12, when the extensions and arms lie substantially in acommon plane, may obviously vary and hence it need not be the same as that shown in the annexed drawing. 'I'his arrangement must be such, however, that as section 11 or 29 is folded on section 7 or 28, respectively, a tension is set up which tends to cause unfolding of the pivotally connected sections.

The reason why the loop 7 is non-rotatable relative to the neck 3, whereas the loop l1 is rotatable relative to the cap 4, is that the loop 7 is engaged with the thread of the neck 3, whereas the loop 11 engages the smooth surface of the cap 4. Therefore, both loops 7 and 11 may be made in various shapes, entirely circular, or partially circular and partially angular, or entirely angular, and I have illustrated three of the forms in Figures 6, 7 and 8.

What I claim is:

1. In combination with a container having an apertured neck portion and a closure cap for said neck portion detachably engaging the same; a two-part retaining member for holding the cap to the container, the two parts of said member b'eing secured to the container neck and cap, respectively, the connection between the container neck and its'retaining member part being a nonrotatable one, the retaining member parts having engaged sections which are pivoted together laterally of the axis of the container, the two retaining member parts being resilient whereby a relative axial movement of the container and cap is permitted, the construction and engagement of the retaining member parts being such that the part secured to the cap tends to turn on its pivotal axis to move the cap laterally away from 110 the container. v

2. In combination with a container having an externally-threaded apertured neck portion and an internally-threaded closurevcap; a two-part retaining member for holding the cap to the con- 115 tainer, the two parts of said member being secured to the container neck and cap, respectively, the connection between the containerneck and itsretaining member part being a non-rotatable one, the retaining member parts having engaged 120 sections which are pivoted together laterally of the axis of the container, the two retaining member parts being resilient and the cap and its retaining member part being relatively rotatable, whereby engagement and disengagement of the container and cap are permitted, the construction and engagement of the retaining member parts being such that the part secured to the cap tends to turn on its pivotal axis to move the cap laterally away from the container.

3. In combination with a container having an externally-threaded neck portion and an internally-threaded closure cap; a two-part retaining member having end loops encircling and engaging the container and cap, respectively, the connection between the container neck and its retaining member part being a non-rotatable one, the connection between the cap and its retaining member part permitting relative rotativel movements of the cap and the loop by which it is encircled, said retaining member parts having engaged sections which are pivoted together laterally of the axis of the container, the two retaining member parts being resilient whereby engagement and disengagement of the container and cap are permitted, the construction and engagement of the retaining member parts being such that the part secured to the cap tends to turn on its pivotal axis to move the cap laterally away from the container.

4. In combination with a container having an externally-threaded apertured neck portion and an internally-threaded closure cap; a two-part retaining member for holding the cap to the container, one part being rotatably secured to the cap and the other part non-rotatably engaging the container neck, said two parts being resilient and having each a pair of extensions provided with hook eyes which loosely pivotally engage the eyes of the extensions of the other part, the extensions of one part lying in intersecting planes and having eye portions tending to spring into positions in which they are spaced apart somewhat less than the normal spacing thereof, the extensions ofthe other part being spaced from each other throughout their lengths and having eye portions tending to spring apart somewhat more widely than the normal spacing thereof, whereby the two parts pull upon each other causing the retaining member parts tightly to engage the container neck and cap, respectively, the construction and engagement ofthe retaining member parts being such that the part secured to the cap tends to turn on its pivotal axis to move the cap laterally away from the container.

5. In combination with a container having an apertured neck portion and' a4 closure cap for said neck portion detachably engaging the same, said cap having a laterally-enlarged head portion and a frusto-conical body portion; a two-part retaining member-for holding the cap to the container, said retaining member being resilient and one part thereof having a ring portion of a diameter greater than that of the top of the cap body and less than that of the bottom of the cap body, the other part, of the retaining member non-rotatably engaging the container neck, said two retaining member parts having engaged sections which are pivoted together laterally of the axis .of the container, the construction and engagement of the retaining member parts being such that the part secured to the cap tends to turn on its pivotal axis to move the cap laterally away from the container. Y

6. In combination with an internally-threaded closure'cap; a sealing member within the cap and at the base of the thread portion thereof, and a retaining member for the sealing member comprising a body bearing against the sealing member and having resilient peripheral portions forced between the teeth of the cap thread and locked against the Walls of said teeth.

7. In combination with a container having an externally-threaded aperture neck portion and an internally-threaded closure cap; a sealing member within the cap and at the base of the thread portion thereof, and a-retaining member for the sealing member comprising a circular plate of resilient material having spaced peripheral teeth, the body of the plate having substantially the diameter of the neck portion at the bottom of its thread and the plate having an over-all diameter somewhat greater than the diameter of the cap aperture at the bottom of its thread, said retaining plate being disposed adjacently exteriorly of the sealing member.

8. A spring wire retaining device for container caps comprising a loop adapted to engage a container and a loop adapted to engage a cap for the container, one of said loops having sliding crossed extensions and the other loop having laterally relatively movable uncrossed extensions, the extensions of one loop being pivotally connected to the extensions of the other loop, and the extensions being so inter-related that rela,-

tive pivotal movement thereof will apply thereto pressure which will decrease or increase the diameters of both loop simultaneously.

9. A spring wire retaining device for container caps comprising a `loop adapted to engage a container. and a loop adapted to engage a cap for the container, one of said loops having sliding crossed extensions and the other'loop having laterally relatively movable uncrossed extensions, the extensions of one loop being pivotally connected to the extensions of the other loop, the extensions being so inter-related that relative pivotal movement thereof will apply thereto pressure which will decrease or increase the diameters of both loops simultaneously, and the loop having the crossed extensions being generally diamondshaped with its major 'dimension in a plane per pendicularly cutting both loops throughout the range of pivotal movement of the extensions.

10. A spring wire retaining device for container caps comprising a loop adapted to engage a container and a loop adapted to engage a cap for the container, one of said loops having sliding crossed extensions and the other loop having laterally relatively movable uncrossed extensions, the extensions of one loop pivotally engaging the extensions of the other loop, andthe extensions of one loop being spaced apart farther than the extensions of the other loop prior to the pivotal engagement of the extensions, whereby when said extensions are engaged the areas of both loops are increased or decreased simultaneously.

11. A spring wire retaining device for container caps comprising a loop adapted to engage a container and a loop adaptedto engage a cap for the container, one of said loops having sliding crossed extensions and the other loop having laterally relatively movable uncrossed extensions, the extensionsof one loop pivotally engaging the extensions of the'other loop, and the uncrossed 115 extensions of the one loop being spaced farther apart than the extensions of the other loop prior to the pivotal engagement of the extensions, whereby when said extensions are engaged the areas of both loops are decreased simultaneously.

12. A retaining device for container caps comprising a loop having crossedextensions and a loop having uncrossed extensions, one of the loops being resilient, the extensions of one loop being spaced farther apart than the extensionslz of the other loop when in unrestrained condition, and the extensions of one loop being pivotally connected to the extensions of the'other loop in such a manner that said resilient loop is placed under tension and its area is modified.

13. A retaining device for container caps comprising two loops having pivotally connected extensions, one of the loops being resilient, and the extensions of the loops being so inter-related that relative pivotal movement thereof from unfolded 1.35 position toward folded position produces a tension which is directed laterally with respect to a -plane perpendicularly cutting throughthe planes against the diverging portions thereof when the loops are folded toward each other, and the extensions of one loop being resilient, whereby a tension is produced which tends to unfold the loops when they are folded toward each other.

15. A retaining device for container caps comprising two loops each having loosely pivotally connected extensions, the extensions of .oneloop being slidingly crossed and diverging from a plane perpendicularly cutting the planes of both loops throughout the range of pivotal movement of the extensions, the extensions of the other loop being associated with their respective pivotally connected extensions of said one loop so that engagement is effected and pressure is exerted between the respective pivotally connected extensions when the loops are folded toward each other, and the extensions of one loop being resilientlyrelated with respect to each other, whereby a tension is produced which is directed laterally with respect to said plane and which tends to unfold the loops when they are folded toward each other.

16. A retaining device for container caps comprising two resilient loops each having loosely pivotally connected extensions, the extensions of one loop diverging from a plane perpendicularly cutting the planes of both loops throughout the range of pivotal movement of the extensions, and the extensions of the other loop being associated with their respective pivotally connected extensions of said one loop in such a manner as to tend to increase the ldivergance thereof when the loops are folded toward each other, whereby a tension is produced which is directed laterally with respect to said plane and which tends to unfold the loops when they are folded toward each other.

17. A retaining device for container caps comprising two sections; each section including a loop, eyes pivotally connected with the eyes of the other section, and means connecting the loop with its eyes and adapted to engage the means of the' other section in such a manner as resiliently to resist folding of the sections toward each other, whereby a tension is produced which tends to unfold the sections when they are folded toward each other. y

18. A retaining device for container caps comprising two sections; each section including a loop, eyes loosely pivotally engaged with the eyes of the other section, and arms connecting the loop with its eyes; the spacing between the eyes of one section being resiliently variable; the arms of each section being yadapted to engage the arms of the other section during folding pivotal movement of the sections in a manner such as to vary the spacing between the eyes of said one section; and the loose pivotal engagement of the eyespermitting a shifting of the engagement between the arms; whereby a tension tending to unfold the sections is produced between the eyes of said one section` when the sections are folded toward each other.

19. The combination of a closure cap, a sealing member within the cap and near the base thereof, and means retaining the sealing member in the cap, said means having contact with the sealing member and comprising teeth resiliently locked against the lateral walls of the cap.

JAIMES O. KING. 

